To Share and Inspire.

If you’re updating your guest bedroom, should you choose one large bed or two smaller beds? I say two beds, ALWAYS! Twin beds, two doubles or two queens (if you have the space), cover a wide range of visitors, from kids to grandparents, singles to married couples, your college-age daughter and her gal-pals or your grown son and his significant other.

Photo Courtesy of Sweet Peas Design

Recently we completed a whole-house update with several guest bedrooms and our favorite is this “hotelesque” room above. It has all of our must-have amenities: two queen beds, a pair of dressers, a two-armed lamp with a task light for each bed, a bench at the end of each bed for either a suitcase or for pillow storage while sleeping, a desk, an extra chair and of course, an ensuite full bathroom. All this guest bedroom extraordinaire needs is a coffee maker and a mini-fridge and friends and family will never want to check out!

Photo Courtesy of Architectural Digest

This guest bedroom (above) from Architectural Digest caught my eye because of the contrast between the tailored, buttoned-down beds and bedding and the whimsical cartoon art on the wall. I’m a push-over for the crisscross benches in jaunty stripes, too – they are practical and cheerful, and notice how the diamond-patterned rug echoes the richly textured bedding. There’s only one lamp to share, which is a minus, but it’s a great room anyway!

Photo Courtesy of RenewRedo.blogspot.com

Here’s a smart idea – a pair of twin beds connected by one tufted headboard. This room has sophistication written all over it, from the neutral colors to the subdued patterns and artwork, but we get a bit of excitement from the furry striped throws. Again, there’s only one lamp to share, and I hope there are a couple of ottomans or benches in the room that guests can sit down to get dressed or put their suitcases on, but this is a handsome look.

Photo Courtesy of Decoist.com

This nautically themed guest room (above) is crisp and welcoming but stops short of being kitschy. Among my favorite accessories are the baskets substituting for benches or ottomans at the ends of the beds. Not only are they handy for overnight bags, but they are a great place to store extra blankets and towels for guests, or to hold the decorative pillows at bedtime. Of course I like having a pair of lamps, – notice that these aren’t exactly the same? – and the “porthole” mirrors are just whimsical and fun. Full points for this one!

Photo Courtesy of Decoist.com

This cheerful blend of casual elegance will make guests feel comfortable and at home. The jaunty windowpane fabric of the bed skirts, head boards and bed curtains relaxes the luxe tone of the chandelier, gold-framed artwork and boxy valances. Bonus points again for the pair of ottomans that open for storage!